The Jaipur Literature Festival, often hailed as the “greatest literary show on earth,” has officially dropped its final list of speakers for the 2026 edition—and it’s nothing short of dazzling. Slated to run from 15th to 19th January 2026 at Hotel Clarks Amer, Jaipur, the festival is gearing up to transform the Pink City into a global crossroads of literature, ideas, and cultural exchange. With this final reveal, JLF brings together a powerhouse mix of Nobel laureates, Booker winners, Sahitya Akademi honorees, thinkers, journalists, artists, economists, and cultural giants who will collectively shape one of the most diverse editions yet.
Returning to guide the festival’s creative heartbeat, Co-Directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple headline an impressive roster featuring celebrated names like Amish, Anuradha Roy, Anne Applebaum, Alice Oswald, Daisy Rockwell, Esther Freud, Kiran Desai, Marie Darrieussecq, Jeet Thayil, Megha Majumdar, and many more. This eclectic mix bridges continents and genres—from poetry to politics, science to spirituality, fiction to fierce public discourse. The lineup also includes prominent policy thinkers like Arvind Subramanian, Nobel laureate Esther Duflo, and strategists such as Nicholas Stern and Radoslaw Sikorski.
The festival’s intellectual heft only grows with historians, biographers, and chroniclers such as Alex von Tunzelmann, Fredrik Logevall, Avi Shlaim, as well as science and culture voices like Laura Spinney, Timothy Berners-Lee, Rachel Clarke, and Bhawana Somaaya. From celebrated academics and art historians to public figures like Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, JLF 2026 promises vibrant conversations that stretch across disciplines. And the glamour isn’t missing either—Viswanathan Anand, Vir Das, Stephen Fry, and even royalty like H.H. Maharaja Gaj Singh II will be part of the celebration of ideas.
Speaking about the festival’s vision, Namita Gokhale said, “JLF 2026 captures the entire spectrum of human imagination…from the poetic to the political.” Dalrymple echoed her enthusiasm, noting the “extraordinary constellation of minds” joining the festival this year. Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, highlighted JLF’s role as a global hub for creativity and cultural dialogue, reinforcing its commitment to being open, democratic, and inclusive.
Beyond the panels and discussions, JLF 2026 will also feature the Jaipur Music Stage, Heritage Evenings, and the 13th edition of Jaipur BookMark, ensuring that literature isn’t the only art form taking center stage. With its final lineup now sealed, the Jaipur Literature Festival stands all set to deliver yet another unforgettable edition—one that promises to inspire, provoke, and celebrate the unstoppable power of stories.